Japan faced high temperatures for a fourth straight day on Tuesday, with heat in the capital Tokyo breaking nearly 150-year records for June and officials warning that power supplies remained tight.
The heat wave comes less than two weeks before a national election in which prices, including the cost of electricity, are among the top issues considered by voters in opinion polls that show the government’s approval rating is falling.
The forecast points to a maximum of 34ºC for Tokyo on Tuesday, after three successive days of temperatures reaching 35ºC – the worst sequence of heat in the month of June since the beginning of the historical series, in 1875.
Cases of hospitalization for heat stroke have surged, with many in the capital continuing to ignore government advice to stop wearing masks outdoors — a more than two-year legacy of the pandemic.
For the second day, authorities urged consumers in Tokyo to save electricity to avoid power outages. High electricity prices are among the main concerns of the Japanese.
Earlier in the day, 13 people were taken to hospital with suspected heat stroke, Fuji News Network said. At least two people are believed to have died from the condition, prompting authorities to moderate their energy-saving calls.
“Apparently some elderly people have turned off their air conditioners to save energy, but please – it’s so hot – don’t hesitate to cool off,” Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda told a news conference.
The proportion of power reserves for Tokyo overnight is expected to fall below 5%, close to the 3% minimum that guarantees stable supply. Reserve capacity below 3% can lead to power outages and blackouts.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said forecasts had improved a little, but still urged consumers to be thrifty with their energy use.
Electronics stores have taken measures to curb consumption, turning off televisions and other products in sales rooms that would normally be kept to attract shoppers, and some Tokyo residents said on social media they were turning off all appliances that were not in use.
But politicians began to call for more measures.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike attended a meeting of shareholders of Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) on Tuesday, saying she called for price cuts, Fuji News Network reported. Tepco supplies power to the Tokyo metropolitan area.
While it is expected to perform well in the July 10 elections for the upper house of parliament, Kishida’s ruling party is facing headwinds from high inflation, compounded by a fall in the value of the yen that makes imports more expensive.
Cabinet approval reached 50% in an opinion poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK between 24 and 26 June, down from 55% the previous week.
Source: CNN Brasil
